The other day I did a phone consult with a woman who had a rescue dog. The dog was acting out, destroying her house and being very unpredictable. She’s had this dog for 6 years. That’s a long time to put up with behaviors like that.
Of course, because she’s home during the quarantine, she’s seeing more of these behaviors. Also, everyone in the house is stressed because of the change in their routines. I explained to her that now would be the perfect time to address some of these issues because she and her family were home, and they could work on retraining their pup. We talked for almost two hours, going over scenarios, possibilities, training situations, actions that she and the rest of the family could take, tools she could use, etc. At the end of the call, I felt confident that she had the resources and capability to work with her dog. And she did! But there was one huge component that was missing from the equation: Her motivation.
I’ve been playing the piano since I was three. Honestly, I am a classically trained pianist. The imporant word there is trained. Whenever I had concerts, I practiced. I spent hours going over and over pieces. I didn’t just wake up one day knowing how to play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. And, when I “jam” with people who were trained in other musical genres, like Jazz, I struggle because my brain isn’t wired that way. Of course, I can practice Jazz chords. etc. But, I don’t have the inclination to do this. (I prefer structure and order.)
Everyone knows that to reach a goal, you have to put in the work. Whether it’s losing weight, learning French or saving for a vacation. Dog training is no different. If you don’t work with your pup, you won’t reap the benefits. Remember, in the immortal words of Aerosmith “Life’s a journey, not a destination.” If you don’t spend time on the journey, you will never reach a destination. Sending your dog to board and train teaches your dog what to do - with someone else. You aren’t developing that bond or relationship. You aren’t learning each other’s quirks or foibles. You aren’t learning to read each other.
If you learn a new language, you have to practice it so you don’t forget it. The same applies to your dog. If you teach her to put her toys away when she’s a year old, but don’t have her do it again until she’s 11, she won’t remember the command. Imagine you getting dropped into Paris years after you took (and forgot) your high school French.
I know I’ve been rambling, so here are some of the points I’m trying to make:
There is no magic pill. No one can wave their magic wand and suddenly have your dog read your mind and understand what you want.
You must continually work to develop the bond with your dog.
Your bond with your dog is unique to you. You can’t translate your relationship to someone else.
You and your dog must both practice whatever you’ve learned.
Behind every well-trained dog is a well-trained person.
So, training your dog is ultimately about developing a relationship with your dog. The only magic is the love you have for each other.